GE, Google ink deal on geospatial tools for utilities

US: A new agreement between GE and Google will integrate Google Maps data into GE’s Smallworld electrical, telecommunications and gas applications. GE, a leading provider of geospatial analytical tools and insight, and Google, a provider of map services with more than 1 billion monthly active users, will help utilities increase productivity based on the ability to visualise and analyse their data with GE’s Smallworld product suite. The combined solution will enhance the existing network visualisation capabilities and will allow utility customers to receive incremental efficiency and productivity of operations in the field. By enhancing the ability to visualise data on a map, utility customers will be able to quickly provide their end-use customers with important information such as outage restoration times and will help to more efficiently manage their network assets.

“We are relentlessly looking at ways to bring value to our customers and this agreement brings together two world-leading solutions providers to help improve productivity,” said Bryan Friehauf, product line leader—software solutions for GE’s Digital Energy business. “Millions of people are already familiar with Google Maps as seen on their computer screens in the office or on mobile devices in the field. Now we’re able to bring that familiarity to our Smallworld products so that our customers can use a platform that’s completely customised for their assets and networks.”

GE developed a set of small focused applications for the Web, mobile devices and desktops. Google’s rich mapping content will form an integral part of GE’s solutions, strengthening the existing geospatial capabilities of GE’s Smallworld products by providing out-of-the-box base mapping as well as visualisation and analytics capabilities. GE’s Distribution Management Systems and Outage Management Systems also will utilise Google’s mapping content in the context of operational control of electricity networks. Notably, for field operators, GE will utilise Google’s Android platform to augment its existing portfolio of mobile products. The new portable solution will integrate Google Maps, providing better contextual information to users in the field.

“By using Google Maps and our API offering, GE is providing its customers with the advantage of a simple and intuitive user interface. Because so many people already know how to use Google Maps, this allows GE’s Smallworld technology to be an even more powerful enterprise solution,” said Tarun Bhatnagar, director, Google Geo Enterprise. “Both GE and Google have a heritage of innovation, and we look forward to working together to provide new ways to use and visualize data on a map.”